Quantum physics and biology: The local wavefunction approach

Abstract

Is there a single linearly evolving Wave Function of the Universe that is able to lead to all the nonlinearities we see around us? This proposal seems a priori highly implausible. I claim that instead, in the real Universe, generically only local wave functions exist. Non-local wave functions occur for carefully engineered contexts such as Bell experiments, but there is no single wave function for a cat or macroscopic object such as a brain, let alone for the Universe as a whole. Contextual wave function collapse leads to a defensible version of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory, where classical macro levels provide the context for quantum events and biological emergence. Complexity arises via multiscale adaptive modular hierarchical structures that enable logical branching to emerge from the underlying linear physics. Each emergent level is causally effective because of the meshing of upwards and downwards causation that takes place consistently with that physics. Quantum chemistry approaches in biological contexts fit this local wavefunction picture.